June 25th, 2019

REPORT OF 15TH BIRD SURVEY AROUND GRENFELL

Report of 15th BIRD SURVEY around GRENFELL in the SOUTH WEST SLOPES KEY Biodiversity Area

Elisabeth Karplus

On Saturday March 23rd, 32 surveyors took part in the 15th survey around Grenfell in the South West Slopes Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). The survey group included four surveyors from Grenfell. One surveyor came from Forbes, six from Canberra while the rest came from Sydney and surrounds. Eight people were new to the survey. We were able to have seven survey groups with most groups surveying on four sites. Other survey leaders apart from myself were Allan Richards, Jill Molan, Ron Broomham, Graham Fry, David Winterbottom and Russell Beardmore. I thank all the survey leaders.

During the survey 11 Superb Parrots were seen on five sites including on “Rosemont”, which is owned by Mikla Lewis, one of the Grenfell surveyors. However 70 additional Superb Parrots were seen during the weekend with a maximum flock size of 29 birds. A single Diamond Firetail was seen on one site in Warraderry State Forest. Of other threatened species, one Brown Treecreeper, six Hooded Robins (three sites) and four Speckled Warbler (three sites) were seen on survey sites. Several interesting species were seen in Warraderry State Forest including two Southern Whitefaces, Varied Sittellas, a Striped Honeyeater and Double-barred Finches. Another unexpected sighting was of a Peregrine Falcon. Seven species of honeyeaters were seen including a single White-fronted Honeyeater, which is more common further inland.

Red-capped Robin Photographer: Colette Livermore

Overall 25 Red-capped Robins were seen on eight different sites. The maximum number of species seen on any site was 14 species (two sites). The maximum number of birds in any site was 84 (49 of these were Apostlebirds or White-winged Choughs) though most sites had many fewer birds.

Grey-crowned Babbler with nest material. Photographer: Dianne Deans

During this survey weekend we recorded 64 species on survey sites. With the continuing severe drought we only recorded 814 total birds compared with 1,234 birds in the September 2018 survey.

The bird list is shown in the accompanying table.

Grenfell-2019Q1

Grenfell-2019Q1

Species

NrBirds

NrSites

Species

NrBirds

NrSites

Apostlebird

105

10

Pacific Black Duck

2

1

Australian Magpie

28

15

Peaceful Dove

10

3

Australian Raven

13

6

Peregrine Falcon

1

1

Australian Wood Duck

1

1

Pied Butcherbird

8

7

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

2

2

Pied Currawong

10

5

Blue Bonnet

4

2

Rainbow Lorikeet

2

1

Blue-faced Honeyeater

4

3

Red Wattlebird

1

1

Brown Quail

2

1

Red-capped Robin

25

8

Brown Treecreeper

1

1

Red-rumped Parrot

28

7

Buff-rumped Thornbill

2

1

Rufous Whistler

1

1

Common Bronzewing

5

5

Southern Whiteface

2

1

Common Starling

2

1

Speckled Warbler

4

3

Crested Pigeon

31

15

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater

6

5

Diamond Firetail

1

1

Spotted Pardalote

5

1

Double-barred Finch

8

3

Striated Pardalote

5

3

Eastern Rosella

57

18

Striped Honeyeater

3

3

Eastern Yellow Robin

1

1

Superb Fairy-wren

4

2

Galah

41

13

Superb Parrot

11

5

Golden Whistler

1

1

Tree Martin

3

2

Grey Butcherbird

10

9

Varied Sittella

10

2

Grey Fantail

11

7

Weebill

1

1

Grey Shrike-thrush

10

8

Welcome Swallow

2

1

Grey-crowned Babbler

27

6

White-browed Babbler

11

2

Hooded Robin

6

3

White-eared Honeyeater

7

5

Inland Thornbill

5

2

White-fronted Honeyeater

1

1

Jacky Winter

7

2

White-plumed Honeyeater

48

9

Laughing Kookaburra

1

1

White-throated Treecreeper

6

6

Little Pied Cormorant

1

1

White-winged Chough

43

5

Little Raven

1

1

Willie Wagtail

18

12

Magpie-lark

15

6

Yellow Thornbill

26

6

Mistletoebird

2

1

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

1

1

Noisy Miner

78

15

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

26

5

Total Nr Birds seen

814

Total Nr Species

64

Mikla and Wayne entertained us at “Rosemont” again for our barbecue. Several groups of Superb Parrots flew over the property. Six people had birthdays in March so we celebrated with a large chocolate cake. On Sunday morning we met at Company Dam for a walk in cool weather and I recorded 28 species including a Speckled Warbler, several Peaceful Doves and a Striped Honeyeater.

The next survey will be held on the weekend of September 27-29, 2019. We hope that our existing volunteers and new volunteers will take part in the next survey. Everyone is encouraged to book accommodation as soon as possible as there are always events in Grenfell. If you are not already on our contact list and would like details of the next survey, please contact Allan Richards (activities@birdingnsw.org.au) or me (emhodson@exemail.com.au).